Leica S: a medium-format electronics upgrade (pictures)

Leica says it has improved the electronics with the S upgrade to the earlier S2. The German company showed off the camera at Photokina.

Read More

Leica S debut at Photokina

The Leica S succeeds the externally similar Leica S2 (yes, the S2 came before the S). It improves the camera electronics, the German camera maker said at the Photokina show where the S debuted. And it's got a 37.5-megapixel image sensor and a $21,950 price tag.

Leica S debut at Photokina

For most people, the Leica S will feel similar to a conventional SLR with a smaller sensor. The camera has new image processing for higher quality photos than the camera's predecessor, the S2. And doubling the memory buffer to 2GB means photographers can shoot up to 32 consecutive photos in 37.5-megapixel raw format.

Leica S underside

Leica S System adapter for Hasselblad lenses

With an adapter, the Leica S can take lenses from rival medium-format camera maker Hasselblad. That helps photographers who might already own such lenses or wish to rent them, and it helps Leica sell its camera even though it doesn't have as wide a range of lenses. The company also announced three S System lenses at Photokina: the Leica Super- Elmar-S 24 mm f/3.5 ASPH. super-wide angle lens, the Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. zoom lens, and the Leica TS-APO-Elmar-S 120 mm f/5.6 ASPH. tilt-shift lens